The Friendly Beast

I stumbled across this gem on my "tour" across Brazilian films of the past decade. This movie almost made me quit the journey. This came highly recommended by a Brazilian friend of mine. I can't even start to describe how abysmal this film is. The script makes no sense whatsoever even for a surrealist flick. Not only that, but it has one of the most laughable dialog I've ever seen on a movie that isn't a comedy. "I know what you want! You want some p*ssy juice". - yeah, that's in the movie in a supposed "tense" sequence. Production design looks like something out of a High School play. The movie takes place inside a restaurant, and they literally built a square with some 3x4. The production value of this feature is something out of student film quality. Acting is over the top throughout. My point is: stay away from this. Unless someone tells me that this is a comedy, this movie shall remain as one of the worst movies I've seen.

I rented the film on youtube after watchinf the trailer and thought it would be amazing but it lacked depth, it was just something derivative. after the first 30 minutes I was bored to death. I am a person who watches lots of good thrillers and invest time in searching for them. so that is why my deception comes with this film. perhaps for people with lower expectations.... this one wont be the worst experience.

A delicious carnage, not that I expected it, definitely a pleasant surprise, to the sound of an intense soundtrack, which alternates terror, mystery and irony, magnificent direction by Gabriela Amaral Almeida, the sex scene was one of the most bizarre, bloody and practically perfect I have ever seen, pure poetry, an absurd casting, adorable dialogues, some plot holes (we overlooked) impeccable performances by Luciana Paes and Irandhir Santos and everyone involved, absurd, dramatic and intriguing...

A restaurant owner goes beyond when an armed robbery is attempted in his establishment. He holds everyone at gunpoint - criminals and customers - and the situations erode into a nightmarish state, guided by manipulation and raw compulsion.

Wow, this very violent film is perhaps the best Latin American horror film and one of the best slasher films ever made. It also has elements of police thriller and obviously food-themed cinema. All seven capital vices or deadly sins appear in the story (wrath, pride, greed, envy, lust, gluttony, and sloth), which deals with many important social issues such as class struggle, misogyny, homophobia, vigilantism and proto-fascism, human rights and rule of law, and, off course, sociopathy. Besides that, there is a low budget (but very good actors) and it is the very first film directed by Gabriela Amaral Almeida. Amazing accomplishment!

Bear in mind that this is low budget, this is quite crazy and characters may not act as you would want them to. There is violence, there is terror, there is nudity! There are quite a lot of crazy things going on and even if you listen to the directors commentary, you may not agree or get all the reasons for the things that are happening here.

Having said that and having a heart for movies with a low budget, this is quite interesting. Well made overall, even with the flaws that may or may not interest you or bother you one way or the other. The disc I had, also had some shorts from the director which gives us even more insight to her work and what she tries to tell and how she entertains an audience. Overall shock value is given, but it also has an interesting story